The Libyan government will not allow the FBI into Benghazi to arrest suspects for last year's deadly terror attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission, a top State Department official told a House panel on Wednesday.

Federal authorities have filed charges against suspects in connection with the September 11 attack on the mission and nearby CIA annex that killed Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.

But Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said they were shocked nobody has been brought to justice.

"Not one terrorist perpetrator has been captured or killed, despite the president saying that this was his highest priority," said Rep. Ed Royce, the panel's Republican chairman.

Rep. Ted Poe added that CNN's Arwa Damon interviewed Ahmed Khattalah in broad daylight. Khattalah is the leader of a Libyan militia officials believe was involved in the assault and has been charged by federal prosecutors.

"After a year, we can't find these people but yet a CNN reporter can go to Benghazi at a hotel, at a coffee shop and have coffee with the suspected ringleader of (of this group) indicted by our government," Poe said. "Maybe the FBI ought to just ask the CNN reporter `how did you get a hold of this guy?'"

Undersecretary for Management Patrick Kennedy told the committee the security situation is too dangerous for U.S. authorities to enter Benghazi. While he said the United States was "working with the Libyan government," he did not offer specifics.

"Benghazi has taken, even since the events of 9/11, a serious turn for the worse. Yes, they will let journalists in, but they are not letting U.S. law enforcement in to arrest people there because the government of Libya is not in control to that degree," Kennedy said.

Kennedy also faced criticism from House Republicans that the State Department did not hold senior agency officials accountable for security shortcomings ahead of the attack.

"No State Department personnel have been fired or even disciplined," said Rep. Ed Royce. "No one has missed a paycheck." The hearing was the first of three this week scheduled by House Republican leadership as part of its ongoing investigation into the Obama administration's conduct leading up to, during and following the attack.

Republicans have said the State Department ignored requests for additional security and scapegoated midlevel officials to protect the leadership of the department, including then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Four State Department employees were removed from their posts and placed on administrative leave last December following an independent review of the attack. Secretary of State John Kerry last month reinstated the officials to new jobs, which State Department officials said have less responsibility.

Kennedy told the committee that reassigning the employees amounted to "serious accountability," although Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Republican, said the State Department did little more than "shuffle the deck chairs."

An independent panel on the Benghazi attack blamed the State Department's diplomatic security bureau, which is overseen by Kennedy, for failing to implement adequate security at the Benghazi post.

The Accountability Review Board, led by former Ambassador Thomas Pickering, made 29 recommendations, one of which was another independent review to identify "best practices" in the public and private sectors in security intelligence, risk management and accountability, all areas where problems were identified at the State Department.

That panel, led by former Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan, warned that the State Department did not pay enough attention to the bureau overseeing security for 275 diplomatic posts and called for it to be elevated in its importance to deal with a growing threat.

As a result of the Benghazi attack, the State Department created a new position of deputy assistant secretary of state for high threat posts and has begun to beef up security and improve training.

But the Sullivan panel's report found those steps to be inadequate without establishing clear lines of authority and responsibility for diplomatic security were lacking. A new undersecretary, the report said, would be responsible for "conducting threat and vulnerability assessments to identify risk" and recommending safeguards. Kennedy said on Wednesday that the undersecretary job was being examined.

"We will do everything we can to deter and mitigate the effectiveness of any attack, but we will not, even with willing and capable governments as our partners stop terrorists or extremists from mounting attacks against us in all cases," Mr. Kennedy said, adding that global diplomacy was an inherently dangerous job.

On Thursday, Pickering and former Joint Chiefs Chairman, Adm. Mike Mullen, who was also on the Accountability Review Board, will testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, as will Mark Sullivan.

The House Armed Services Committee panel will also meet Thursday to examine the military's preparedness to respond to terrorist attacks like the one in Benghazi.

soundoff(191 Responses)

How Nice, Mr F***face Ed Royce wants his FBI goons to come to my country and waltz right in?
FBI running amock in my country ahaha. that wont happen.

Getting sick of all the ignorant and racist idiots and trolls posting on the internet, Didnt know they existed in the Republican House of Foreign Comittees too.

Easy to swing about accusations when it comes to terrorism, But no then the investigations come later dont they.

"alan
this was an act of war,the Libyan terrorists should be hunted down and killed by the military,either special forces or a few hundred thousand troops on he ground.The weakness on display in DC is going to get us into real trouble.Our inaction only emboldens our enemy.
The FBI has absolutely no business over there,they could investigate the illegal arms deal that got out of control and throw those in DC who are responsible in jail.

September 19, 2013 at 9:24 am |"

Maybe this little Fa*****t ought to come to my country personally and say it to my face, and meet this "terrorist" that is possibly twice as more educated than he will ever be instead of posting immature trash behind his little laptop at home.
Im shocked CNN allows imbeciles to post on the internet.

"No State Department personnel have been fired or even disciplined," said Rep. Ed Royce. "No one has missed a paycheck."
hmmm that's somewhat reminiscent of result of the events of another "9/11" attack eleven years earlier. I don,t know why we sit around expecting the government to investigate itself. They never have and they never will.

This is nothing more than stall tactics Obama will stall as long as he can for Hillary as long as Bill keeps helping him . Look CNN does not even condemn Obama for not going after these guys. You take about being played. You tell me one person who has lost there job over these scandals the only ones I can think of were whistle blowers which Obama said he would protect. CNN your proud little boy { Obama } is a snake.

People are surprised when U.S. authorities are not allowed in other countries? Do we reciprocate? No. We don't let police officials from other countries in the U.S., but people can't understand why some countries consider their own territory as sovereign! What would the public think if say the secret police from Russia, the Middle East or an Asian country were allowed to come in and arrest Americans?

When they attacked our compound/annex it was an act of war. Why are we trying to arrest them as if they stole a car or committed a murder? We should be trying to kill them, with or without the cooperation of the Libyan government, which by the way cannot even control their own territory.

Some here will complain about the defense budget. the defense budget cover for all defense programs, men and women fighting on the ground, their healthcare, food, ammunition, fuel. I also believe this covers for veterans.

Perhaps you should ask Osama Bin Laden about Obama's "failures". Oh wait. Wrong guy to ask, eh? Did you know that Obama, upon leaving office will have ended 2 more Wars than he started? Yep. More failures? Keep grasping at those straws, Obama bashers. You got nothing else, especially ideas that haven't already failed. I would like to see the GOP nominate for the 2016 Presidential race, two of the GOP's favorites. Ben and Jerry. Yep. Ben Ghazi and Jerry Mander.

I would weigh in but won't, because I don't think the anti-Obama people are convincible. Nor do I think they've gotten the clue that the President is not up for re-election. Not are they are they smart enough to realize the Senate is basically 50/50 plus or minus Joe Lieberman, that only about 33 seats are on the ballot next year, and almost every solid Democratic seat would have to go Republican for their fantasy to occur, And then they've got Biden.

September 19, 2013 at 1:31 pm |

Mikey B.

VOTE HOLDER/WEINER 2016!!!

September 19, 2013 at 7:52 pm |

Fedweb

That sound of laughter you hear is coming from Langley, where the CIA boys are enjoying the heck out of seeing the State Department take all the heat for an attack on on of their (CIA) facilities, which was only using the term "consulate" as a cover. Meanwhile, nobody is repeatedly summoning CIA operatives or issuing subpoenas for CIA memos related to operations in Benghazi ...

No one is asking those questions. Clearly there was something else going on and its clearly classified information.

September 19, 2013 at 1:00 pm |

dick guzinia

he was overseeing the CIA gun running OP to the Syrian rebels...a favorite project of Hilly and the muslim convert Brennan

September 19, 2013 at 2:55 pm |

StanCalif

I have often asked this same question! I usually get blocked by CNN censors.
Stevens was a well respected and accomplished ambassador for the USA. For some unknown reason, he was in Benghazi (a totally unprotected outpost) doing what? If he felt threatened, why did he stay? Too many people want to blame others for Stevens own failure of common sense! He should have returned to Tripoli, worked out his security issues, then returned (if his mission was so critical). What was he doing??? Nobody talks about this! Stevens obviously made a fatal judgement call and paid the price. No one else is to blame!!!
We have ambassadors in many countries all over the world. Should every one of these be guaranteed full security when they make stupid decisions? Not possible! Stevens screwed up, now let's get over this.

September 21, 2013 at 9:10 am |

Rosslaw

In 2011, the House Republicans stripped $128 million from State Dept. security budget. When that did not produce the desired result, House Republicans stripped another $330 million from the State Dept.'s budget in 2012. Mission Accomplished!!!! I haven't heard anything from the teatards about replacing State's security budget, but then again that would be too close to actually doing something that would make sense.

Did you know that the US state department budget for consulate and ambassador spending went up in 2010 from 6.6 billion to over 9.3 billion. Furthermore, no budget was passed in 2011. Repubs gained control of only the house in 2011. Monies could have been allocated from other State Dept programs. Stop with the finger pointing.

In 2010 the State Dept's annual budget was around $11 billion dollars. As of 2012 the House (Yes, the House!) had increased it to around $16 billion. Are you really going to try and tell us that a reduction of around $450 million wiped out the State Dept's ability to have security when their funding had been bumped up by $5 BILLION DOLLARS?

Even Hillary is on record saying the budget had nothing to do with the lack of security in Benghazi. Your argument is completely without merit and just proves a lack of ANY real understanding of the issues surrounding this crisis.

I am willing to bet that 99% of the people posting here like zaqaz would have their tiny brains all in knots if the law enforcement agency of another country demanded that they be allowed into the U.S. to arrest anyone who had killed one of their citizens. But these arrogant people who believe the U.S. should be allowed to do whatever it wants, anywhere in the world, are the people who pose the greatest threat to the security of the U.S. War lovers like Bush Deuce set back this country a century in terms of international political clout.

You got it all upside down, Dlws. They (the media and the cry-baby Democrats) hounded President Richard Nixon out of office for a second-rate burglary that had no consequences whatever – to anyone. Yet, we get the Dems ordering the IRS to discriminate against Republicans and Conservatives, and we get a complete farce and outright lies by Billary Clingon in regard to the Benghazi mess – and the press and the Demos sweep it under the rug as though it was completely unimportant. I understand why you don't want those people arrested – because if they are found guilty it will prove that old Billary is just what we've been saying she is – a b**ch, a liar and an altogether profane woman who has ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS representing the United States of America – and the idea of her as President of the USA is absolutely sickening!

Wow clueless much? If you actually weren't listening to that propaganda you would realize that the IRS targeted both Conservative and Liberal groups.

September 19, 2013 at 10:34 am |

OldSchool

Oh, you mean the IRS "scandal" which has been entirely discredited at this point? You know the one – it began with the claim that the administration was specifically directing the IRS to target conservative groups for attempting to attain tax-exempt status for the political organizations (which is illegal), and turned out they were doing that FOR EVERY political group that was trying to do so – including liberal ones.

You must live inside the echo chamber where the only news you receive is the initial sensationalist drivel, and not the subsequent information completely debunking it...

September 19, 2013 at 10:36 am |

D

Actually a foreign nation can apprehend a US citizen. They first report to Interpol. Next, US law enforcement is contacted. Once all evidence presented a foreign law enforcement agents along with US law enforcement agents can engage and make an arrest. State department and FBI are kept privy to the operation

September 19, 2013 at 11:35 am |

DMB

The reason the Libyans are not cooperating is anger over the Administration's BS story about Benghazi. The Libyan Prime Minister was interviewed on U.S. tv Sept. 16 2012 and explained exactly what happened and who was responsible. 5 seconds later Susan Rice came on and contradicted everything he had just said, and told the administration's politically motivated and demonstrably false story about a protest over a youtube video. Deputy Ambassador Greg Hicks testified before congress that anger over this snub is the reason the Libyans are not cooperating with the U.S.

The hunt for OBL never ceased, wasn't even interrupted. The ability to find and kill OBL was the direct result of the ongoing work begun by Bush. It's called multi-tasking.

September 19, 2013 at 11:03 am |

What is going on? FREEDOM

malcat you're an idiot. Bush took out over 3/4 of our intelligence services to hunt down insurgent leaders in Iraq. Obama put our intelligence services back into Afghanistan and neighboring countries in the search of Osama. You trolls are hilarious.

September 19, 2013 at 11:05 am |

kat

Rep. Ted Poe said. "Maybe the FBI ought to just ask the CNN reporter `how did you get a hold of this guy?'" Ted Poe just put the lives of foreign correspondents at risk of being captured, tortured and killed as spies. Why would any country believe an American journalist is actually a journalist and not a spy after this comment?

Rep. Poe is an incompetent fool. Foreign governments already distrust the U.S. for using journalists as spies. Making a statement like this tells foreign governments that the U.S. is too willing to use whatever mean necessary to collect information.

By example, reporters, Laura Ling and Euna Lee were captured in North Korea and held as spies. Ling and Lee's were supposedly working on a report about female refugees abducted by human traffickers for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based media outlet, Current TV.

And, if you've ever read a CNN report, its journalists don't have much credibility as being journalists based on the quality and content of their "news" reports. It's only too easy to believe they are spies pretending to be journalists.

Now you've let the cat out of the bag! Before your post, foreign governments were oblivious to the possibility that people might misrepresent their credentials! Not only are reporters in danger, but so are contractors, tourists, airline pilots, and anyone else who might set foot in a foreign country.

If it had just been civilians killed this would be no big deal. Now the cowardly politicians are scared. I love seeing fear on the face of a politician; they way congress is acting, I suspect they will be scared to death of the public in the next decade or so.

Wow, a republican who repeats a fact that is actually true. That IS the address of the White House.

I'm finding it sad but not surprising the number of people of who called for Clinton's head over what happened at Benghazi, as if she was there or had any say or knowledge of the attack while it was happening. It shows how your logic can be perverted if you hear lies often enough.

It's like saying that Warren Buffet is at fault if there is a problem at a See's store. Just ridiculous.

"as if she was there or had any say or knowledge of the attack while it was happening"

The attack lasted for hours. If Sec. Clinton didn't have knowledge of it while it was happening, then she really was incompetent.

September 19, 2013 at 10:39 am |

What is going on? FREEDOM

vbscript you are barking up a tree. We had no forces in the area and those at the embassy in Tripoli were ill-equipped to travel (and it would have taken more then 10 hours to get there). We had no satellites (contrary to what conservative extremists keep spouting out) in the area until after the attack was done.

September 19, 2013 at 10:43 am |

Jessica McGwin

As far as the FBI asking the press how to get a hold of the suspect in this case. More often than not the press would "protect" it's source. Historically the press has not been the sharing type. It would not hurt to ask. Hearing no I am sure they have gotten use to. May I ask why the reporter dose not just go to an FBI field office pick up the phone ask for any agent sit down go over his notes, they can record it and listen to it later to absorb it all. Boom done. Dump it all on them cause that is what they get paid for. Say thank you leave. If they call you back and want you to more than your job or civil duty either negotiate a contract or say no.

If they were innocent Libyan citizens then yes! Maybe that will teach our government to stay out of other countries issues, our country has enough issues as it is and the current government could care less.

September 19, 2013 at 8:54 am |

Dennis LA

Thanks for making the point how pathetic Obama and Holder are sending cops to arrest terrorists who killed our ambassador.

September 19, 2013 at 8:54 am |

Wake Up People

WHY IS THE FBI, A FEDERAL AGENCY OF THE USA DOING ARRESTS IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY?

this was an act of war,the Libyan terrorists should be hunted down and killed by the military,either special forces or a few hundred thousand troops on he ground.The weakness on display in DC is going to get us into real trouble.Our inaction only emboldens our enemy.
The FBI has absolutely no business over there,they could investigate the illegal arms deal that got out of control and throw those in DC who are responsible in jail.

September 19, 2013 at 9:24 am |

MB

Nothing knew. The FBI gets involved if crimes are comitted against Americans abroad or American facilities. They've taken part in investigations in Lebannon, Saudi Arabia, etc.

"No State Department personnel have been fired or even disciplined," said Rep. Ed Royce.

Four State Department employees were removed from their posts and placed on administrative leave last December following an independent review of the attack. Secretary of State John Kerry last month reinstated the officials to new jobs, which State Department officials said have less responsibility.

One of these statements is false. I'd bet that it is Royce putting politics ahead of the facts.

The key here if you notice is that is was a CIA location meaning it would have been a low profile sort of thing. If it was a CIA deal, no one but the NSA would know what and why we were there. Read that the CIA was holding someone or some alleged terrorists.

Because this was and is the same group of people obama was in such a hurry to help, funds, arms, air support. now he is again giving another group of extermist in syria , who if you listen to Syrians tell it are mostly foreign fighters.

You must feel pain free, because nothing you say resembles the truth. In each country, Syria and Libya, the rebel forces are comprised of various factions, some of which are loosely related to Al Qaida. In Syria, the resistance there is mainly moderates, not Al Qaida. The US just cannot barge into any country it wants to and demand it's own justice. As said, the issue is that currently, Libya's government isn't set up yet. Like Iraq, which basically has no government. Thank George and Dick for that one.

September 19, 2013 at 8:40 am |

What is going on? FREEDOM

Brian what we should ask the Truth hurts is why he is so gung ho in showing support for Assad who is getting support from Hezbollah fighters (which the last I heard of is a terrorist group).

September 19, 2013 at 10:48 am |

Jack Rivera

obama didn't need the OK to bomb Syria and didn't ask for it in Libya, so why ask for the OK now, just go in and get the bad guys. But, really, what does it matter anyway, RIGHT bootlicker?

I still find it amazing most Americans (particularly those that don't like the President) don't understand the difference between an Embassy and a consulate. I had to go to the French consulate once to get a Visa for France before they fully rejoined the NATO military alliance. It was in a strip mall, and there was probably one French person and a dozen Americans working there. If you think our consulate in Benghazi was supposed to be like a full embassy with Marine security detail, you are sadly mistaken,

September 19, 2013 at 12:12 pm |

Random

Republicans need to do their jobs , make budgets, and stop making their sole job while in office to throw the president under the bus. If you dont get your thumbs out of your bums and do your jobs you will cost yourselves the next election too.
No matter how bad you make the president look for doing something it still looks better than what your entire party has done for the last 8 years.

No one cares about government shut downs. Personally I want you politicians to stop getting paid for not doing your jobs, democrats and republicans alike. Sit down, shut up, and do the job you were put there to do.

Agreed, but as for throwing our own people under the bus when it really is not warranted is mostly republicans. It has been their strategy for 8 years now. As for vacations while things are not getting done, that is both. Freeze their paychecks and benefits until they do their jobs.

September 19, 2013 at 8:09 am |

mgkdrgn

Sending "policemen" to deal with acts of war is the height of folly ...

Tell the whole quote:"Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night and decided they’d go kill some Americans," Clinton said. "What difference – at this point, what difference does it make?"

If you send in covert ops and they get caught then you get reamed by the american people for secretly doing things without them having knowledge because, for some god awful reason nowadays, we the people think we need to know classified info. ... isn't that what happened in the so called "spying" incident? Lets all just face it, no matter what Obama does, It will never be good enough for you tyrants even if it's the best decision! Comparing this to 911 as well is a shame, 4 deaths waaay overseas in an incident where there were no warnings vs 2996 deaths right here on our soil in an incident where the perps previously sent video warnings, were trained at our military bases here on our own soil, that info alone is enough to say 911 was disgustingly a govt letdown! Horrible action and reaction to it 100%, 911 was shameful, disgraceful and all of the above! 911 was a world compared to benghazi being a village, not even worth comparing the two!

Yet another example of how the bumbling man known as Obama aids and abets terrorists. Under Quadaffi, American tourists were welcome as his sons were very Western oriented and secular. Under Obama, he was overthrown and the terrorists now have a nation state even our own law enforcement cannot enter. And Obama is trying to do the same in Syria now. I am just waiting for the jihadists to start blowing up some of the most pristine and well preserved Roman architecture in the world, because it is not Islamic architecture.

I love how all these dictators are now "secular friends of the West." Gaddafi ordered the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103!! Suddenly he's a nice guy and mean ol Obama killed one of our friends!?! Forget YOU!!!

"Not one terrorist perpetrator has been captured or killed, despite the president saying that this was his highest priority," said Rep. Ed Royce, the panel's Republican chairman.
It has been the POTUS highest priority to put banksters of the 2008 meltdown behind bars for five years already. Did it happen? Right! And it will never happen!

LAUSD actually has a location that teachers removed from the classroom report to and sit there for the regular work day. It can take months for the process to terminate them is complete and then it doesn't always happen.
If they can't fire them but don't want them in the classroom they just keep going to that location every day.

Wow, The right wing hate Meisters are out in force tonight. To that Sean dude who denies that Rush Limbaugh is the leader of the Republican Party? Really. If he's not then who is, John Boehner? Chris Christi? Right! And you think things are bad here? The country is stable. Unemplyoment is dropping. The stock market today hit new records. The banks and housing are stablizing. We are making more products here, especially cars. And as far as worlld opinion of us it has never been higher. And we just avoided another dead end military entanglement and Russia should be involved. They are Syria's big brother. This is the equivalent of China curbing N Korea. Come out of your bunkers and double wides guys. Its a new world and America is on the move! You can stick to your Jim Crow mindset or you can join us!

Amen to that!! This country has come back big but they're too blind to see the tons that outweigh the grams...the eyes just see the grams when the mind needs an excuse to stay in a negative state. They want him impeached and will stop at nothing even when obama has done nothing wrong, even to the point of making excuses when questions are being answered. How can a person ask who, what and when and when they get an answer that is completely logical all they can say is "libtards make up any excuse to protect obama". News Flash, obama is not my buddy as much as any president before him, I will not protect him if he screws up, if he does then he deserves to be punished but I will say i have yet to see him make a bad decision, even if i didnt agree with it, he has yet to have made a choice that has screwed us....and he is getting the job done!

You and Chris need to see a surgeon about getting your lips removed from obama's backside so he can get inserts. Also you two are like little salmon swimming upstream to lay eggs. We have part-time economy and stocks supported by QE, my company just laid off more people and my home lost more value, you have swallowed the obama line hook and sinker.

If you are referring to the GOP administration that was overseeing the economy and Wall St. in the years leading up to the financial crisis then, yes, you are correct. None have been held accountable.

September 19, 2013 at 1:49 am |

Scott

Scott #1.... If you are referring the flaws in the system set up and protected by Frank and Schumer under Clinton, then You would be right, so you don't know what you are talking about. Even Clinton blames Schumer and Frank from blocking any regulations on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

because they are in syria fighting along side of the same rebels that our government is trying to arm, train and support to learn the right way to kill more people, damage more towns and destroy more dreams

Face it.. this is the silver bullet the GOP has for Hilary. They are going to keep beating this dead horse as long as she is in the conversation for the next election. Ironically, they do NOT want the perpetrators arrested and turned over to justice. That would be a win for the current Administration.

Should the terrorists who killed them be turned over to justice, the GOP (led by Rush) will feign "extreme skepticism" that those arrested are guilty, and will go on for months and months casting aspersions on the validity of the arrests.

The only people who think Rush leads the GOP are the ones who love to bash Republican even when they want find out the truth. I'm sure you think Obama did a swell job in Benghazi like he has done with everything else. So freaking delusional. Congress man Obama from Chicago aka the worst crime area in the nation. Gun bans and it's still the wild west, but Obama did great there to right. We have the lowest support from the world in US history thanks to Obama. British won't even stand with him. Racial divide was forced to the forefront with his wildly irresponsible, " my kid would be like Tryavon"...after sending his DOJ goon squad on a witch hunt without any chance of success just like the Sanford police new all along

The same U.S schools being ran under a democratic platform?
Exactly why so many people are taking their kids out of public education. Public education is now an education for poor people. Remember nothing good in life is ever free.

I was reading the post above yours and thinking the same. about the republicans & conservatives.

September 19, 2013 at 1:15 am |

wallstreetcrime

The mess we're in is because of liars on the extreme Right and fakeriots making stuff up left and right in order to obfuscate the fact that their "leadership" includes little more than whining and stopping any legislation that might help us move forward.

Benghazi was a CIA covert operation that was attacked by a well organized group, quite possibly with Al Qaeda ties.

"Sources now tell CNN dozens of people working for the CIA were on the ground that night, and that the agency is going to great lengths to make sure whatever it was doing, remains a secret.

CNN has learned the CIA is involved in what one source calls an unprecedented attempt to keep the spy agency's Benghazi secrets from ever leaking out."

Of course, since it's a secret operation under this administration, then it's clearly a bunch of lies. However, had anyone asked about CIA operations under Bush, or questioned their legitimacy, the Right wing whack jobs would have called those asking tough questions "traitors."

The extreme Right are the closest thing we have to a cancer within our borders.

September 19, 2013 at 1:23 am |

spidermunkee

My chips are never all in on one side or the other, but the Rebs have NO ONE worth or capable to run (or possibly win) the next election. At least the Dems have a plan.

Just saying. You Republiturds whine and snivel about 4 people dying but you're QUITE FRUCKING OK with the thousands that died because Bush had his thumb up his rear end reading a story about a pet goat while America was attacked on 9/11.

the Dems and the REpubs have now officially, as if we didn't really notice, become the Hatfields and the McCoys. Both sides think they have all the answers and both sides shove all the blame on the other. And guess what? It's getting even deeper. And no, the Independents aren't any better, they are weak-minded lost souls, or by now they would have gained a shred of support.

September 19, 2013 at 4:23 am |

Jdc

Very good comment. Intelligent, educational,and full of level headed parallels. (Sarcastic!). You open with name calling, then proceed to compare the Benghazi attacks to 9/11. I shouldn't even bother to show you how fundamentally different they are, but I will give you a couple. First, there was no written, spoken, or auctioned threat prior to 9/11. In fact, the CIA didn't even know Al Qaeda existed until shortly before 9/11/2001. In Benghazi, a Ambassador Stevens had three unsuccessful attempts on his life by the same group that eventually killed him. After the second one he received a warning letter from the group telling him to leave Libya on his own or in a body bag....his choice. He tried negotiating with them and offering a seat at the table for discussion of the future government, but the refused and promised they would finish what they started. Second, there were no written requests for additional security on 9/11. None. Prior to the final assassination attempt on Stevens, he requested additional security twice, only to be denied.

As for your conspiracy theory that Bush knew it was coming, I just can't even begin to tell you how crazy you sound. The attack on 9/11 was a punishment from Al Qaeda for Operation Desert Fox in 1998.

But I think the most repulsive part of your comment is that you try so desperately to make Benghazi seem "not that bad". I'm saddened that so many reduce this to a justification argument. Even if abush was guilty of the things you put in your post, how does that justify what happened, or what didn't happen? Are you that in need to deflect for Obama that you will say anything just to minimize the attack and the administrations culpability? I watch liberals every day lob blame and character assassinations against the right. And as much as you are right in most instances, you fail to see the childish nature of your own party. You and I have something in common. We both dislike Bush. The difference is that my reasons are rooted in history and facts. Yours are blanket talking points, and no matter how many get proved wrong it doesn't stop you from continuing to say them. No matter how many times you say it it doesn't change the fact that Bush wasn't responsible for the economic crash, nor was he lying about the WMD's. Obama even admitted in his speech on Monday that the WMD's that were in Iraq were moved to Syria before the UN inspectors got there. A large portion of Assad's CW's are Iraqi.

What rock having you been living under. President Clinton once had any opportunity to try and take bin Laden out. There were credible reports from allies in Europe that something was going on. The intelligence community had its head where the sun doesn't shine and missed. While its doubtful our government would have shot down those planes there was ample time to get a couple of them, but Bush kept reading and Cheneydid nothing but seek cover to protect his sorry fanny.

September 19, 2013 at 12:16 am |

Thaddius

Over 60 people died in 13 attacks on US Embassies and Consulates during Bush II's term. Where was your outrage then?

All this Benghazi talk is partisan foolishness, and the GOP should be ashamed of themselves for holding up the bodies of the dead in an effort to smear our duly elected President.

Shameful.

September 19, 2013 at 12:43 am |

johndcross1

Enough of these talks! It's over a year now and nothing is happening. If the government of Libya has no control over Benghazi then we will do it without them. We will arrest or kill all those responsible in the death of our diplomat & personnel. We will employ all the might of our armed forces to find those responsible. What are we waiting for? We could not wait for our president to act on this with decisiveness because he has NO BALLS & a muslim loving coward!

You sure do have a lot of nerve talking about more illegal attacks when NATO had no justification to attack Libya in the first place.

You ambassador deserved to die for your country's mistakes. You are a good example of a typical American whose empty bravado in demanding unilateral and illegal attacks against other sovereign nations makes the entire world despise America in the first place

Will you be the first man to "arrest" those responsible for the justified attack on your ambassador? Or are you just some internet warrior who prefers when others do the dirty work?

To say that the ambassador deserved to die shows a complete lack of respect for international law or diplomatic relations!

September 19, 2013 at 12:09 am |

Burstbubble

It is amazing that our honored president hasn't declared war on Libya already. Attacking a diplomatic embassy is supposed to be similar to attacking the country it represents. Maybe the US government just wants it to go away?

September 19, 2013 at 12:38 am |

The Other Bob

@Burstbubble: Since it wasn't the nominal government of Libya, such as it is, wasn't behind the attak, on whom should war be declared? And by the way, the POTUS can't declare war. That power resides with Congress. So guess what you can do with your low-information anti-Obama comment!

Face ti folks... all this republican backbiting, hand wringing and fist shaking is done out of spite by those bitter political hacks who're only criticizing President so hard because they feel Bush Jr. was picked on by the mean, nasty democrats and their liberal media puppets ;) *snicker* It'll be nice to see a lil genuine risk taking on the conservatives part that involves pro-social behavior regardless of the consequences to their political careers.
what? I can dream a funny dream can't I?

Face it, folks. The only democrat on this committee who says anything keeps trying to bury the story instead of getting to the truth.
The sickening thing is people like Foley are such ginormous hypocrites about it. They blame Bush for everything under the sun, but won't say word one about Hillary even though American lives were needlessly lost.
Nope, their method is to trot out the UN ambassador to knowingly make false statements to the world blaming some obscure video, just so Hillary wouldn't get dirt on her pantsuit. Political hacks at the worst–trying to obfuscate and delay any meaningful investigation, trading American lives for their own political gain.
Had this happened on a republican president's watch, Foley and his cronies would be going ape.

Hillary is an enemy of the people of the United States. She should be arrested and tried for TREASON.
Along with that coffin-dodger Henry Kissinger! ( And the rest of their cronies at the Bilderberg meetings! )

no it wasn't. or bush would have seen him there when he looked under the desk for WMD's!

September 18, 2013 at 11:59 pm |

Paul R.

Perhaps the president might suggest that Libyan leadership first watch the movie "Munich," then make a choice. We can 1) ask that the FBI will be allowed to enter the country and do what they do best, or; 2) we will simply send in Seal Team 6 to do what they do best.

No doubt your IQ is pretty close to your shoe size. Just an educated guess.

September 19, 2013 at 12:21 am |

bam

wah wah benghazi wah wah benghazi....
When will someone be arrested for a WMD lie? u know where over 5000 troops died over 50,000 wounded...
not to mention the collateral damage to Iraqi citizens 200,000+

Shush your Mouth bam... that would be even handed... and we can't have that now can we? If we did, then, why, republicans might have to consider their own dark part in this and the feelings and motivations and excuses they gave people with terroristic hearts and intentions, and well, golly gee whilickers... then they might realize their own culpability!

Aw, the poor Iraq army, militias, and terrorists. Wah, wah, wah.
The price of freedom is sometimes high and the Iraqi people (and the entire region) are better off without the evil dictator and his sons.

That's exactly why someone should've been arrested... Heck, i'd take someone repeatedly subpoenaed, investigated, harassed, fired or even slapped on the wrist.... you know? Everything being demanded from the Republican party (and fox news) on Benghazi today.

What a pathetic waste of time this has turned out to be. This Issa schmuck is wasting valuable government resources on investigations and hearings, in what is clearly a blatant political effort to slander a democratic administration. The irony is that the same folks guiding this Republican ideology (See 'Project for the New American Century', Heritage Foundation), are the same ones that pushed WMD in the first place.

September 18, 2013 at 11:44 pm |

Portland tony

The US will not turn over to the Italian government the CIA agents tried and sentenced in absentia for kidnapping and rendition of a Muslim cleric during the Iraqi war. What's the difference?

There are never any real answers during these hearings. Who actually saw the requests for more security from Ambassador Stevens? Who denied the requests? When will we hear from the survivors? Who gave the stand-down orders? It's all stall, deny, don't know, and our hands are tied. Does anyone in this government do or know anything?

He can't do that. Without a demonize Hillary campaign they don't really have anything else to do. People have all but stopped listening to the hate Obama rhetoric so they have to resort to this. Can't wait to see the 2016 clown car of Rep candidates that will sing "What does it matter" or "What difference does it make" in unison because of a lack of anything else that get them elected. The Rep primaries are some of my favorite reality comedies.

September 19, 2013 at 9:57 am |

JiminNM

Absolutely correct. Gaddafi was eliminated because he was orchestrating the sale of oil for gold and not dollars and was uniting African nations to do the same thing. Now South Africa has joined Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRICS) to pursue an initiative to displace the dollar with a basket of currencies for reserve currency. The elimination of leaders for political and financial reasons are international war crimes committed by the U.S. Government, and there is a long list of such crimes. The FBI has no authority in a foreign sovereign nation.

Typical government response to any sensitive situation:
"As a result of the Benghazi attack, the State Department created a new position of deputy assistant secretary of state for high threat posts and has begun to beef up security and improve training."
Okay, occupy several floors of office space in DC, hire a bunch of civil servants, train them to make photocopies, stamp a bunch of papers "Top Secret" (beefed up security!), teach them how to surf all the juicy internet sites so they can look "busy" all day!!! Teach them how to shuffle papers between each other with no one authorized to make a decision on anything! Just pass it along. Of course someone will have to learn how to create voluminous reports to congress, hundreds of pages each without saying anything! And surely, the appointed "deputy assistant secretary of state for high threat posts" will have to take many vacations/junkets all over the world to personally assess the threats!!!
And please, don't blame this on Obama! Both parties do the same thing, over and over again! Does anyone even know (or care) how many of these types of offices exist today? Once created, they are never reviewed nor eliminated.
If we had any real journalists today, someone could make a huge name for themselves by researching how many of these "offices" actually exist today, and explore exactly what they do. But, nobody cares. Congress is always pleased with another "new office", then they rant and rave over the wasted billions in our budget! Easier to target our poor and helpless. Government employees are sacred, even if they serve no purpose!

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